Rise in vice-chancellors' salaries adds to anger among lecturers

Lecturers involved in a pay dispute with universities reacted with anger last night after it emerged that vice-chancellors had received a 25% salary increase over the past three years.

Academic staff staged a one-day strike on Tuesday and will be taking industrial action over the coming months which will disrupt student coursework and exams. Last night the dispute intensified after the scale of the vice-chancellors' salary increases became clear.

The Association of University Teachers (AUT) said it would be writing to the education secretary, Ruth Kelly, to call for an official investigation into the "murky world" of vice-chancellors' pay.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the AUT, added: "I think there is a real and urgent need for vice-chancellors' pay to be properly scrutinised and all rises to be conducted in a transparent manner."

The pay survey, carried out by the Times Higher Educational Supplement, shows the average salary for a vice-chancellor is now £154,000 - up 8% in 12 months and 25% over the past three years. Thirty-three vice-chancellors individually earn more than the prime minister, with 18 topping the £200,000 mark.

The industrial action, by the AUT and the union Natfhe, threatens widespread disruption for universities in the run-up to the crucial end-of-year exams. Employers and some student groups have criticised the decision. But last night union leaders said the action would end if its members received the same deal as vice-chancellors.

"All we [seek] is a fair settlement ... we will call the industrial action off immediately, accept parity of pay and a deal worth 25% over three years," said Ms Hunt.

In a joint statement, the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association and Universities UK said vice-chancellors' salaries reflected the calibre of those recruited. The majority of academics "will have seen their pay increase by up to 26% between 2001-02 and 2004-05".